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Bamba wants Leeds stay amid Newcastle & Sunderland links

Sol Bamba: Was chased by Newcastle and Sunderland

Leeds captain Sol Bamba insists he sees his future at Elland Road after revealing the club turned down a couple of approaches to sign him during the January transfer window.

Newcastle and Sunderland were both reported to have sounded out the Whites about a move for the Ivory Coast international, but Leeds – who sold Sam Byram to West Ham earlier in the window – rejected the approaches from the North-East duo.

And Bamba, who refused to discuss where the bids came from, insists he still sees his future at Elland Road, despite seeing Liam Cooper and Giuseppe Bellusci the preferred central defensive selection at present.

“I’ve been here before,” Bamba told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “It’s always nice to have clubs after you but from day one the manager and chairman told me I wasn’t going to go anywhere. I knew then that it would be difficult to go. It’s passed, I have to move on and get on with it.

“It’s a mixed feeling because at some point, when I was talking with my family, maybe they were saying it’s maybe best for me to move but I’m settled here, I’m happy and I’ve just bought a house. I didn’t want to go too far. If you’re looking football-wise then playing for a Premier League club or somewhere abroad would have been nice but I’ve got a big role to play here. My agent’s been in contact with a few clubs and the club’s been in touch with some other clubs as well but they were clear straight away that I wasn’t going anywhere so it never really crossed my mind. I wasn’t going to behave badly to make sure I left left or anything like that. I’m here and I move on.

“When there were rumours that I was going the lads were saying to me that it was going to be difficult for them. That touched me a bit. It must mean I’m doing a good job (as captain). I try to smile and keep everyone together because no-one is bigger than the club. I’ve said that time and time again.”